Administration team
Administration team
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Our Operations Team consists of a Laboratory Manager, QA Manager, Operational, Service and Project Co-ordinators, PPIE Officer, Administrator and PA to the Lead Nurse.
As well as our Operations Team we have Data Coordinators, Administrative Assistant and Receptionist/Clerical Officer who are pivotal in providing a key supportive role within our department.
Our Data Coordinator Team provide a key supportive role to the clinical teams in the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF), assisting in the delivery of timely, high quality data entry for a large portfolio of clinical research activity. The team not only work with internal staff but closely with researchers and sponsors to ensure that credible, accurate data is available on time to meet Good Clinical Practice (GCP) requirements.
Our Administrative Assistants work closely with the Service Co-ordinator and Operations Team with ad-hoc small projects that provide service improvements for patient benefit, as well as overseeing the cross-site Reception Team on a day-to-day basis with any queries including undertaking 1-1s and appraisals.
Our Receptionists provide a welcoming, friendly and efficient reception service to support patients and participants, relatives and research staff from all clinical disciplines. They ensure the smooth running of participant visits by welcoming people when attending for visits, booking transport and ordering patient records. They are at the heart of the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF).
Kim Driver
Laboratory Manager
Marie Marshall
QA Manager
Zoe Whiteley
Project Co-ordinator
Rachel Whelpton
Service Co-ordinator
Linzi Procter
Operations Co-ordinator
Grace Edwards
PPIE Officer
Fahimeh Nafely
Data Manager
Imogen Wilson
Data Assistant
Sarah Young
PA to Lead Nurse
Bethany Whitworth
Administrator
Monika Wood
Data Co-ordinator
Sandra Sutton
Administrative Assistant
Kim Driver
Laboratory Manager
I joined Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in January 2022 as Laboratory Manager for both the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) and the Cancer Clinical Trials Centre (CCTC). I have worked in laboratories since 2008 and have 5 years of clinical research experience.
My role involves working closely with the operational and clinical teams across both units to ensure the highest laboratory standards are upheld through the use of robust, aligned procedures, audits, and a standardised training programme within each laboratory.
I find working in clinical research so rewarding and love the challenges and successes each day can bring. I have been made to feel so welcome since I started in post and am so happy to be part of what is an amazing team.
Marie Marshall
Quality Assurance (QA) Manager (Operations Team)
I have worked in the NHS for around 11 years and over 8 of those have been in clinical research working in a range of teams, spanning many specialities.
I joined the Operations Team on secondment in December 2023 as a Quality Assurance Manager responsible for the maintenance and development of quality management systems. NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has a long history of delivering high quality research ensuring standards set by national and international bodies. My role focuses on the whole research process involving patient safety, data quality and research integrity; helping to ensure that we are always inspection ready through audits, monitoring, training, gap analyses and planning.
Clinical research is an incredibly rewarding field to work in and collaborating closely with colleagues to improve patient care is a privilege. It is fast-moving and challenging but our efforts are rewarded by seeing the real difference we make in someone’s life in the here and now as well as in the future.
Zoe Whiteley
Project Coordinator (Operations Team)
I joined the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) as a Project Coordinator at the beginning of 2020, having spent the previous 5 and a half years working in the STH Clinical Research and Innovation Office (CRIO) in a variety of roles. As Project Coordinator, I lead on communications initiatives and I am the primary contact for collating and disseminating information about publications. This is vital to understanding the outcomes and output of the research that we have supported. My role is to work closely with the Operations Manager and the rest of the Operations Team to ensure that the processes and procedures underpinning the activity of the clinical team are in place. This includes initiatives around data management, quality assurance (QA), patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
I was heavily involved in the operational side of the vaccination work established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and really enjoyed being part of this team and what was achieved. I particularly enjoy the variety of my role and the supportive CRF team that I work with, and I am proud of the small role I played in COVID-19 research over the course of the pandemic.
Rachel Whelpton
Service Coordinator (Operations Team)
As Service Coordinator in the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF), I work closely with the Head of Operations, Operations Manager and the Operations Coordinator.
As well as taking on the day to day running of key projects within the service area, I also look after our website and social media outlets to ensure everyone including our staff and participants, are kept up to date with the latest information regarding the CRF and the work we do locally and nationally.
I also oversee the authorisation and amendments process, ensuring that our staff are aware of the latest changes and updates to studies.
The other main part of my role is supervising the administration team including the PA to the Lead Nurse and Reception Team. I work with the teams to ensure that the systems and processes are in place to support staff, researchers and patients. One key initiative that I lead on is obtaining patient/participant feedback and feeding this into the wider team to ensure that we are being the best we can be.
I have worked in the CRF for over 15 years now and I continue to be amazed by everything our team achieves and how pivotal research is in helping to ensure better treatments for people. It is so rewarding to be even a small cog in this important wheel.
Linzi Procter
Operations Coordinator (Operations Team)
As Operations Coordinator I work closely with the Operations Manager, Quality Assurance Manager and Service Coordinator and the primary focus of my role is to support the processes and procedures underpinning the work of the clinical and operations teams. I have worked in the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) for over 10 years in a variety of roles including PA to the Lead Nurse, and Service Coordinator.
As part of my role, I am responsible for oversight of the administrative aspects of the CRF feasibility process to manage requests for support from the CRF, as well as taking on the day to day running of key projects, processes and functions. I also support quality assurance and service improvement within the unit to ensure that systems and processes are in place to support staff and researchers in conducting research which is of excellent quality and is compliant with robust safety standards.
The pandemic has really highlighted the importance of clinical research and the fantastic work that is done within the CRF. It really is exciting and rewarding to support so many amazing clinical trials that can change peoples' lives.
Grace Edwards
Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Officer - (Operations Team)
I am the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Officer for both the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) and NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). In this role I aim to engage more people in our upcoming research projects through community outreach and supporting existing patient advisory groups.
Previously I have worked at the Integrated Care Board (ICB) as a Programme Support Officer supporting the National QUIT Smoking Programme and the Social Prescribing Programme across South Yorkshire, working on both clinical and holistic care between the two programmes. Working with the voluntary sector across South Yorkshire on the Social Prescribing Programme highlighted the importance of bringing in patient experiences to inform strategy, and this led me to apply for the PPIE Officer role.
I look forward to connecting local people to local ongoing research, and the developments that will lead to.
Fahimeh Nafely
Data Manager (Operations Team)
As Data Manager my role is to ensure the quality of the data within the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) and to support the administration and clinical teams in tracking and reporting performance. I work closely with the Senior Management Team and patient facing teams to create customised reports that enable tracking or recruitment and delivery performance. I am also involved managing the CRF database and manage and oversee the training of new staff on the system. A key part of my role is supporting users of the system to ensure that data is entered accurately and timely to enable swift reporting as and when required.
Over the years, I have created a number of data and reporting solutions to gain insight into every aspect of our clinical research including performance real time report (BRAG), bed occupancy and trends in patient activity. I am also responsible for the annual NIHR Finance and Activity report and ensuring the data we present accurately reflects our activity throughout the year.
The most enjoyable part of my job is having the pleasure to work with wonderful colleagues from all parts of our research organisation and provide personalised support. I’m also a chair of the UKCRF Network Information Management and Technology Theme Group which gives the incredible opportunity to share knowledge with other UK CRFs. For more information on Theme Groups visit the UKCRF Network website.
I have enjoyed contributing to the success of the COVID vaccine studies through management of the participant booking system, which was developed using a process that I adapted.
Imogen Wilson
Data Assistant (Operations Team)
I joined the Operations Team in December 2021 as a Data Assistant, having worked in the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) for the previous year as a Data Coordinator.
I work closely with the Data Manager and other members of the Operations Team to ensure that the data in our system is of high quality and accurately reflects the activity of the CRF through routine data cleaning. A key part of my role involves supporting staff with the use of our CRFManager® database, and reviewing and redesigning the training for this system.
It is inspiring to work within a team that is always working so hard to improve patient outcomes. The CRF has played a very important part in COVID-19 research, and I am very keen to give a helping hand in this role.
Sarah Young
Personal Assistant (PA) to Lead Nurse
(Operations Team)
As PA for Gail Mills, Lead Nurse for Research and Development, I primarily manage Gail’s busy diary, providing a secretarial and administrative service to support and assist her and the Senior Nursing Team including Research Matrons for the Trust, NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) and the Cancer Clinical Trials Centre (CCTC).
I am the first point of contact for the Lead Nurse, dealing with, or referring as appropriate, internal and external enquiries, verbally and by email, and participate in ad hoc projects as they arise, taking responsibility for specific areas as appropriate.
I enjoy working in research as I feel that I am involved in providing administrative support to clinical staff so that they can then focus on producing significant changes and improvements to the lives of those looking for solutions to their various health conditions.
Bethany Whitworth
Administrator (Operations Team)
After graduating from university with a degree in human biology, I knew I wanted to be part of the NHS and felt that clinical research was an area that I was very interested in and something I wanted to contribute towards.
I first began working as a Data Coordinator within the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) in September 2023, where I worked closely with research nurses on a range of clinical research studies. In October 2024, I joined the Operations Team as an Administrator, where I support on ad-hoc projects and contribute to quality assurance and service improvement initiatives related to various projects. My main duties include organising meetings, conducting audits, managing archiving of study documentation and processing study amendments and authorisations. During my role as a Data Coordinator, I gained a great deal of knowledge from working in a clinical research environment, and it is satisfying to be able to apply these skills in my new role.
I enjoy working within the CRF as everyone is so kind and all the staff are very hardworking. Seeing how clinical trials can truly improve patients' lives and emphasise the value of research is incredibly fulfilling! I'm excited to see what amazing things we can achieve together as a team.
Monika Wood
Data Co-ordinator
I joined the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility (CRF) in September 2024 and I am responsible for ensuring that all necessary data from trials is collected, accurately input into the system, and undergoes thorough quality checks for compliance with study protocols, SOPs, and regulatory requirements.
I work closely with our fantastic team of nurses and administrative staff to maintain high standards and support the smooth progress of clinical studies.
It is incredibly rewarding to contribute to research that focuses on improving patients’ lives, and I feel fortunate to be part of such a dedicated and hardworking team.
Sandra Sutton
Administrative Assistant
I initially joined the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) in 2019 as a Clerical Officer/Receptionist. I left in 2022 to join the Procurement Team within STH and then returned to the CRF in November 2023 to take up the role of Administrative Assistant.
Some of my main responsibilities include putting processes in place to ensure the smooth running of Reception area, co-ordinating advance rotas between multiple teams and sites, liaising with external and internal agencies to provide courier collections/amendments/bookings/taxi/notes, and reviewing training needs for staff, identifying, and implementing new process based on these service needs.
I love my job, evident in that fact that I came back!! The role is one that is very varied, and fast paced at times, which I thrive on. I also take pride in making patients feel as comfortable as possible
Alison Grundy
Alison Grundy
Receptionist/Clerical Officer
Receptionist/Clerical Officer
My job requires me to work closely with the nursing and admin teams covering a wide selection of duties including welcoming participants to the department for their appointments and making sure that they are dealt with in a welcoming and timely manner, arranging their taxis if needed to transport them to and from their appointments and request their medical notes if required.
I really do enjoy working within the CRF, coming to work with a team of colleagues who are always working hard to achieve great things.
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